Is Samsung secure wifi the equivalent of using a VPN? I've been using it for over a year now to protect to hackers when using public wifi. I've also notice post about different VPNs like surfshark.
VPNs are not secure in the way that the user is totally hidden. Yes VPNs encrypt their connections and can make the users "appear" to be originally connecting for somewhere else , but they don't stop cookies, or prevent displaying the markers that makes a person identifiable. They are marketed that way and it is dishonest. Now if they actually stated what they can do (like hiding the original IP, getting around restrictions etc), I would no problem with them.
Whatever device is used to connect to the net, that device is seen by any site, like its make, serial number etc, that cannot be hidden; they are all stored in cookies and no one can browse without them. Since people go to many places and many even go to certain places much more than others, those identifiers can reliably track who the user is and still market their data.
Even some sites will block an IP address from another area if it does not match what the other identifiers show. Even Google will outright block using their services without any means to be able to use them, unless they are on their own IP address origin. The best protection is using the available tools on one's devices and not go to links or download things while being even remotely unsure of what they are.
